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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Red Romance

For long, the Naxalite in news was recognisable by the gun. But the more insidious version of Naxalism has never needed a rifle. It has thrived in varsity classrooms and newspaper and magazine columns, fostered by men and women sympathetic to it. These academics and other members of the so-called intelligentsia have long enjoyed their status as ‘respectable dissenters’ even when their politics offered intellectual alibis for Naxals carrying guns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent...

Red Romance

For long, the Naxalite in news was recognisable by the gun. But the more insidious version of Naxalism has never needed a rifle. It has thrived in varsity classrooms and newspaper and magazine columns, fostered by men and women sympathetic to it. These academics and other members of the so-called intelligentsia have long enjoyed their status as ‘respectable dissenters’ even when their politics offered intellectual alibis for Naxals carrying guns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Independence Day warning about “dimaagi Naxals” should therefore not be dismissed as another political label. His larger point was that an insurgency does not survive on ammunition alone. It survives on ideas and people willing to make violence appear morally fashionable. The most revealing feature of India’s Maoist movement was never simply its brutality. It was the strange attraction it exercised over sections of the metropolitan Left elite. The Naxalite with an AK-47 could be transformed into a romantic revolutionary while the policeman he killed became an instrument of an oppressive state. This was not merely naïveté. At its ugliest, it was the intellectual laundering of political violence. The fantasy of the romantic revolutionary has always been seductive. In this narrative, amplified through sympathetic media priding itself on telling ‘truth to power,’ India was not a constitutional democracy struggling with inequality and corruption but an inherently illegitimate state waiting to be overthrown. In the minds of this elite Left, Maoist violence has often been recast as resistance while attacks on infrastructure as blows against capitalism. The armed overthrow of the Indian republic was the liberation they craved for. Some of India’s most celebrated intellectuals have flirted dangerously close to that moral inversion. The issue here is whether intellectual prestige can be used to sanitise an ideology whose practitioners have murdered civilians, policemen and public servants and terrorised some of India’s poorest districts. A university cannot be the place where Maoist romanticism acquires the legitimacy of a fashionable campus cause. Professors who turn armed insurgents into heroic revolutionaries are not merely exercising academic freedom. If they knowingly excuse violence, they are helping to construct the moral vocabulary that makes violence possible. Let’s be clear here. A professor who criticises the Indian state is not a Naxal while a journalist who exposes state excesses is not an enemy of India. But an intellectual who repeatedly excuses, glorifies or rationalises political violence cannot hide behind the word ‘dissent.’ India has paid an enormous price for the Maoist fantasy. Thousands have died. Entire regions were held back by fear while development was obstructed. The people supposedly being liberated were often the first to suffer. The armed Naxal is now being pushed towards extinction. But the Indian republic cannot afford to leave behind the romantic mythology that made the gun respectable. A democracy can tolerate dissent. It should never be expected to tolerate the glorification of those who seek its violent destruction.

Post H-1B Fee: Maharashtra’s IT Potential in Tier 2 & 3 Cities

The H-1B fee surge presents a unique opportunity for Maharashtra’s emerging IT hubs if backed by government incentives.

The United States’ recent decision to impose a one-time fee of $100,000 on new H-1B visa petitions from 21 September 2025. This move marks more than a regulatory change—it signals a global reset in sourcing technology talent. For decades, Indian IT professionals have been the backbone of the U.S. tech industry, but with this steep cost increase, firms will now seek more affordable alternatives.


This shift is an opportunity India—and particularly Maharashtra—cannot afford to miss. While Tier 1 hubs remain strong, the real potential lies in Maharashtra’s Tier 2 and 3 cities.


New Opportunities for India

For U.S. firms—or companies serving American clients—the cost of hiring Indian engineers in the United States can be prohibitive, with visa expenses adding up to $100,000 per hire. Offshore delivery centres in India, offering a 70–80 per cent cost advantage, present a more viable alternative.


India’s established outsourcing ecosystem, large English-speaking talent pool, and global reputation for reliable service delivery give it a clear edge over other destinations. IT growth is no longer limited to Tier 1 hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune; Tier 2 cities are increasingly able to support expansion, backed by improving infrastructure and a steady pipeline of skilled professionals.


Potential of Tier 2 Cities

Nagpur

  • MIHAN SEZ (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport) hosts Infosys, TCS, and Tech Mahindra.

  • Centrally located, equidistant from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata—ideal for logistics and data centres.

  • 25+ engineering colleges produce over 15,000 graduates annually.


Nashik

  • Traditionally an agro-industry and manufacturing hub, now emerging as a startup and IT centre.

  • Office rents are 60% lower than in Pune/Mumbai, attracting GCCs (Global Capability Centres).

  • Growing number of startups in fintech, agritech, and AI.

  • 8,000–10,000 graduates emerge annually from local and nearby colleges.


Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

  • Strong manufacturing base (auto, pharma, textiles) now expanding into IT.

  • AURIC Smart City offers plug-and-play IT infrastructure.

  • Government incentives include land, power, and tax concessions for IT firms.


Kolhapur

  • Traditionally agricultural and industrial, now moving into IT services and startups.

  • Large NRI community from the Gulf and Europe—potential for reverse investment.

  • A pleasant environment adds to its appeal.


Solapur

  • Known for textiles, now designated as a future IT cluster under Maharashtra’s 2023 IT Policy.

  • Low-cost land and government-backed incubation centres support growth.


To fully seize this opportunity, the Maharashtra government would need to roll out single-window clearance policies to attract companies—a step well within reach in today’s policy climate. This should be complemented by large-scale investment in IT parks across Tier 2 and Tier 3 hubs, along with incentives such as stamp duty and power tariff concessions. Offering tax holidays of five to seven years for companies setting up in IT clusters could further boost investor interest. At the same time, robust skill-development programmes to train thousands of youth annually, coupled with significant funding and support for research and development, would help build a sustainable ecosystem for long-term growth.


Startup & Innovation Ecosystem

Nashik and Nagpur have recorded a 300 per cent surge in startup registrations over the past five years. Entrepreneurs' focus has been on sectors such as FinTech, AI, EdTech, AgriTech, and EV solutions.


Government-backed incubators in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Solapur are helping nurture this momentum by offering seed funding and mentoring support. By 2030, Maharashtra’s smaller cities could collectively be home to more than 2,000 startups.


Seizing the Opportunity

The H-1B fee hike has made offshore outsourcing the most cost-effective option for U.S. companies. While Tier 1 Indian cities will remain at the forefront, Maharashtra’s Tier 2 and 3 hubs present the real opportunity. To unlock this potential, the government must focus on:


  • Infrastructure – Reliable power, internet, IT parks, and co-working spaces.

  • Talent Development – University tie-ups for AI, cloud, and cybersecurity training.

  • Policy Execution – Faster rollout of IT policy incentives.

  • NRI Engagement – Structured channels for diaspora investments.

  • Branding – Position Nagpur, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as global IT destinations.


If executed well, Maharashtra could create 50,000–70,000 new IT jobs in smaller cities, driving significant economic gains and fostering more inclusive growth beyond Mumbai and Pune.

(The writer is a PHD in Human Resource Management based in Ahilya Nagar. Views personal.)

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